Friday, July 29, 2011

Mini Reviews: Fracture, Catching Jordan and My Beating Teenage Heart

Oh yes, it's that time again. Mini reviews: Books which don't come out for awhile, but I already ready them and loved them so now I have to talk about them and who else to talk about it to but you guys? So this week we have some grief, some mystery, and some hot romance. Yep. It's a good week for mini reviews!

Fracture by Megan Miranda: Brilliant. Amazing. Engaging. Emotional. Painful. I could probably keep going, but you get the idea. This book seriously blew my mind. I read it in one sitting, straight through, completely gripped from page one. The writing is stellar, and so absolutely real and emotional... I physically ached. Page count wise, this isn't a long book, but WOW does Megan pack so much into those pages. And I'm just going to say it. The comparison to If I Stay and Where She Went that is on the Goodreads summary? Absolutely true and well deserved. You know how those two books exhaust you emotionally, tear your heart out, but you can't let it go? And how your mind is boggled by how much story you actually just read in not so many pages? That's exactly what this one does. The story is original and well developed and the characters are AMAZING. I loved everything about Delaney's character, from her reactions to her motivations to just... her. I love Decker, too, so perfectly broken without being shattered, a guy who can keep going even when he's hurting but who also doesn't completely hide the pain. There's romance, with plenty of bends in the road, but there's so much more too. I can't even explain this plot in just a sentence or two because there is just. So. Much. And I love it. And its amazing. And everyone needs to make sure they read this book.

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally: Hot. Sexy. Lust driven. And okay, there's a good story too. But seriously, Miranda knows how to write the hormones and the desire and the unadulterated want. I really liked Jordan's character, too- a girl who can hold her own, run with the boys, but who has kinks in her armor and isn't just a totally stereotypical tomboy. Then there's her three closest guy friends, each similar in some big ways but different in bigger ones. The relationship between those four, the interactions, and just the overall humor and spunk really makes this book stand out. But let's not forget Ty, about as hot as a guy can be with a good personality to go with it. Sure, he wasn't as fleshed out as I'd like, but he was still a good character and I could definitely see Jordan's intense attraction to him. This is another one that I read pretty much straight through, able to predict some things but wanting the confirmation and enjoying it more with every turn of the page.

My Beating Teenage Heart by CK Kelly Martin: This one is a book that is centered on grief, and it's as emotional and painful as you'd expect, but done oh so well. CK's writing is beyond words, so talented and flowy. I loved Breckon, and he was so tormented, so broken, so far past hope that it was near impossible to turn away from him and his story. His mentality and voice were spot on, both as a male character and as someone shattered by grief and ready to give up. It tore me apart to watch him push every one away from him, but I loved his girlfriend, Jules, who refused to turn her back. With a few much needed spots of laughs and even lust, there's some relief in an otherwise gripping and exhausting book. Then there's Ashlyn, who is trying to figure out her own story and what's happened to her, tied to Breckon and forced to watch him suffer while feeling completely unable to help him. The way she changes as a result is just as strong as Breckon's own development, and the near lack of interaction between the two narrators adds a very fresh element to this book.